Hunting and Fishing Licenses

Where can I buy my fishing license? or Where can I buy my hunting license? These used to be the most common questions we would get. Thankfully the provincial governments (mostly) have finally embraced e-commerce and have just now figured out that the internet is the best possible vendor for hunting and fishing licenses.

I always used to drive to Canadian Tire to buy my hunting licenses every year, plus an additional stop at the post office to buy the Migratory Game Bird Stamp, which could not be bought at the same place. Many post offices were not open on weekends or past 5:00 pm, making it more difficult to obtain. When I was planning my spring fishing trips to Alberta, we always had to work a stop at a license vendor before we got to the fishing spot. When visiting my brother-in-law in Manitoba, who lives off the beaten path, obtaining a fishing license to fish the lake out his back door is still an extra hour drive. Manitoba is behind Saskatchewan and Manitoba getting their licenses online, but they do offer a licenses by mail process. It has been a welcome addition to see the provincial danger ranger organizations finally getting with the digital age and selling licenses online. Find below some specific information on each provincial hunting and fishing license options and online purchases. Prices are updated as of 2015.

If you are traveling to Canada to hunt, you would be well advised to purchase these licenses online prior to your arrival, or have your outfitter/guide purchase them on your behalf. Visiting a license vendor in the peak of hunting or fishing season can mean long line ups and shortages of licenses.

Note that the fees for licenses will vary from province to province and also depending on your residency status. Prices increase from Resident to non-Resident Canadian to Foreign Resident.

Alberta Hunting Licenses & Fishing Licenses

WIN Card
Hunters and anglers in Alberta must possess a 10-digit Wildlife Identification Number (WIN) to apply for draws, purchase wildlife certificates, licenses and replacements. The cost is $8.00 plus GST and is valid for five years; renewal fee is also $8.00.
If purchasing at an Issuer bring your WIN Card. Keep your information up to date; address changes can be made online or at an issuer.

To buy your licenses, or obtain your WIN, go to a private license issuer or online at Albertarelm.com.

Saskatchewan Hunting Licenses & Fishing Licenses

Saskatchewan has followed the lead of Alberta and you can purchase all your Saskatchewan hunting and fishing licenses online at http://environment.gov.sk.ca/licences/. First you will need to create your account, called a H.A.L. for Hunting Angling and trapping Licenses (yes, they seemed to have missed adding a letter for Trapping). The H.A.L. is like the Alberta WIN, it’s your outdoors ID number. Once you create a HAL (or a WIN in Alberta), keep the number. It will make all your future hunting license and fishing license purchases go much smoother. The HAL is free, you will need it purchase licenses and apply for big game draws.

Manitoba Hunting Licenses & Fishing Licenses

Manitoba is a couple seasons behind getting it’s online licensing program rolled out. I’ve heard it’s in trial mode but it’s not yet available to the masses. If you are traveling to Manitoba to hunt with an outfitter, you can purchase your licenses through them.

Manitoba is offering a licenses by mail option. Their website states: ” call 1-800-214-6497 (Winnipeg residents call 204-945-6479) or write to Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship, Box 42-200 Saulteaux Crescent, Winnipeg Manitoba R3J 3W3″. So, plan ahead and leave lots of time, or plan to make a stop at a Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship offices before you hit the field, forest or water.

Canada Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit

$17.85 (includes GST)

To hunt migratory birds in Canada, a Canada Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit and Conservation Stamp are required. This federal permit and associated conservation stamp are used by the Canadian Wildlife Service to select hunters for national game bird surveys to determine hunter activity and species harvest. Revenue from permit sales is used across Canada for wildlife conservation projects. You can now (finally) purchase your Migratory Game Bird permit online at https://www.permis-permits.ec.gc.ca/en. Note, this is federal permit. You do not need to purchase one for each province where you hunt migratory game birds.